It was truly a time for celebration last week as officers from across the city came together at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Cops, Kids and Christmas annual event.
This program began in 1982 when the son of CPD Retired Officer John Thomas was having health issues and was being treated at the Cleveland Clinic. During his son’s stay, Officer Thomas came across kids and parents from all over the world who were spending the Christmas holidays away from home. He got together with some of the officers from his platoon, gathered some presents and delivered them to the kids in the hospital so that they had a Christmas they would remember for a long time. So from that day on, CPD officers would gather every Christmas season and deliver presents to hospitals, daycares, and shelters; some wearing their uniforms, some dressed as animal characters, and of course Santa Claus himself. This of course was the start of Cops, Kids and Christmas.
This year was no different as officers from the Cleveland Division of Police handed out presents to the kids, sang Christmas carols, and we all enjoyed a visit from old Saint Nick himself. Congratulations to Officer Thomas for keeping the spirit alive for 40 years and a big thank you to all the officers that attended helping make the celebration a success. Oh, by the way, Officer John Thomas’s son (Jimmy) recovered from his illness, did a stint in the U.S. Marine Corp and is now a well respected officer with the Cleveland Division of Police.
– Bob Guttu, CPF